A driver circuit is configured to control a power transistor. The driver circuit comprises a signal generator configured to generate a control signal for the power transistor based on a supply signal and an input signal from a control unit. In addition, the driver circuit includes a ripple detector configured to receive the supply signal and determine whether the supply signal includes a ripple error. In some examples, the ripple detector may be configured to send a warning signal to the control unit in response to detecting the ripple error.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
2. The driver circuit of claim 1, wherein the ripple detector is configured to send a warning signal to the control unit in response to detecting the ripple error.
3. The driver circuit of claim 1, wherein the driver circuit is configured to control a flyback power converter, wherein the power transistor comprises a secondary side power transistor, wherein the driver circuit further comprises a flyback control loop for controlling a primary side power transistor.
4. The driver circuit of claim 1, wherein the power transistor comprises a secondary side power transistor and the ripple detector is controlled based at least in part on a switching frequency of a primary side power transistor.
5. The driver circuit of claim 1, wherein the ripple error is indicative of a failed capacitor associated with the supply signal.
6. The driver circuit of claim 1, wherein the ripple detector comprises a comparator configured to compare the supply signal to the threshold.
7. The driver circuit of claim 6, wherein the ripple detector comprises a counter configured to count a number of instances that the supply signal exceeds the threshold.
8. The driver circuit of claim 7, wherein the ripple detector is configured to output an indication of the ripple error in response to the counter exceeding a defined number of counts within the period of time.
9. The driver circuit of claim 8, wherein the ripple detector includes a reset unit configured to reset the counter after the period of time.
10. The driver circuit of claim 6, wherein the threshold is a programmable threshold.
11. The driver circuit of claim 1, wherein the supply signal is based on a charge on a plurality of buffering capacitors.
12. The driver circuit of claim 11, wherein the ripple error is indicative of a failed capacitor within the plurality of buffering capacitors.
14. The system circuit of claim 13, wherein the ripple detector is configured to send a warning signal to the control unit in response to detecting the ripple error.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the control unit is configured to control the power transistor according to a protection mode in response to the warning signal.
17. The system of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of buffering capacitors, wherein the supply signal is defined based on a charge on the plurality of buffering capacitors, and wherein the ripple error is indicative of a failed capacitor within the plurality of buffering capacitors.
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May 4, 2021
February 14, 2023
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